NEW CLIENT ENQUIRY

Karen Smibert

Infant and Toddler (0 to 3 years) Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist Bachelor of Occupational Therapy,
  • About Karen
  • Karen graduated from the University of Queensland in 2004 and has worked in various fields of Occupational Therapy, and most recently, working with children and their families in multidisciplinary private practice. She has a particular interest in supporting infants, toddlers and their families and believes strongly in the value of early intervention to improve long term positive outcomes. She has had experience working with children with Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and other congenital conditions, Autism, ADHD, intellectual impairment, and developmental delays.
  • Karen is a mother to 4 teenage boys and is keenly aware of the demands and complexities of family life. She values parent involvement in therapy sessions as well as collaboration with all involved in the care of the child, including childcare, other health professionals and extended family. Karen values ongoing learning to ensure her clients receive current, evidence based interventions.

  • Services provided by Karen include:

  • ADOS-2 assessment - Paediatric The Early Years ADOS Assessment
  • Assessment (motor, sensory, social, cognitive), including early detection of cerebral palsy and Autism
  • Play – promoting the functional motor and cognitive skills needed for mastery of play stages
  • Development of fine and gross motor skills
  • Sensory processing
  • Parent coaching and education
  • Positioning and handling for feeding, posture development and skill acquisition
  • Cue reading and reciprocity
  • Environmental modifications and equipment
  • Development of sleep and daily routines
  • Emotional regulation
  • Settling/calming/engagement strategies
  • Visual field development Qualifications and Training
  • ADOS-2 Training
  • “Supporting the Occupational Roles of Infants”, presented by Lisa Findlay
  • Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) training, Jo George – QLD Health
  • Mater Growth and Development Unit Conference, “Developmental Coordination Disorder After Preterm Birth”
  • “Self Regulation: It’s a State of Mind”, presented by Dr Christine Chapparo
  • “Sleep with Disability” – addressing sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with disability, presented by Annie O'Connell
  • “Talking Toileting”, OT Australia
  • “Moving and Soothing”, Trauma Informed Practice, by Australian Childhood Foundation
  • “Traffic Jam in my Brain”, presented by Genevieve Jereb
  • “Supporting People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Families”, OT Australia
  • Bayley-4 Training Pearson